Germany is a major European country with a large population of over 80 million residents and a rich history as an important hub for business, politics and art over the centuries.
Germany is an excellent location for international students to pursue a world-class university degree at affordable prices while experiencing life in a well-organised and immigrant-friendly community.
Additionally, with nearly two-thirds of Germans being fluent in English, you will be able to communicate effectively without needing to learn the local language at the top German universities.
| University | QS World Ranking 2024 | QS Rank in Germany | Times Higher Education Ranking 2024 | THE Rank in Germany |
| Technical University Munich | 37 | 1 | =30 | 1 |
| Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München | 54 | 2 | =38 | 2 |
| Universität Heidelberg | =87 | 3 | 47 | 3 |
| Freie Universitaet Berlin | 98 | 4 | 102 | 9 |
| RWTH Aachen University | 106 | 5 | 90 | 5 |
| KIT, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology | 119 | 6 | =140 | 12 |
| Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin | 120 | 7 | =87 | 4 |
| Technische Universität Berlin (TU Berlin) | =154 | 8 | =136 | =12 |
| Albert-Ludwigs-Universitaet Freiburg | =192 | 9 | 128 | 11 |
| Universität Hamburg | 205 | 10 | =136 | =12 |
Founded in 1868 with a focus on the natural sciences, the Technical University Munich (TUM) is a large-scale public university primarily located in Munich, with two additional campuses in the towns of Garching and Weihenstephan.
The Technical University Munich has a truly cosmopolitan and diverse student body, with a third of its 32,000 enrolled students being international students. Studying at the Technical University Munich enables you to benefit from the university’s deep ties with both employers as well as respected international institutes.
In 2002 the Technical University Munich established an overseas institute in Singapore named the German Institute of Science and Technology – TUM Asia. The Technical University Munich is also well-known for its world-class faculty, with 13 Nobel Prize winners currently on the teaching staff. Courses are offered to international students in thirteen departments, some of which are:
With a history of educational excellence stretching back over 500 years since it was founded in 1472, LMU Munich is one of Europe’s most prestigious research universities for international students. Many LMU students typically continue to work in Munich after graduation, as the city is a major European centre for Arts and media-related industries.
International students pursuing medical courses will also be especially interested in LMU because the university operates the nearby LMU University Hospital where doctors-in-training receive valuable practical experience. Courses at LMU are divided into 18 Faculties, some of which are:
Founded in 1386 in Heidelberg city in south-west Germany, Heidelberg University is the oldest university in Germany, and is currently home to about 20,000 enrolled students. Unlike other universities in large cities, studying at Heidelberg will allow you to focus completely on your university life and academics due to the small size of Heidelberg, a city where 20% of the population is made up of Heidelberg University students!
The four primary faculties at Heidelberg University are:
Founded in 1948 in Berlin, with the help of extensive international support in post-war Germany, the Free University of Berlin is dedicated to providing a non-political and research-focused university experience to international students.
With a total enrolment of 27,000 students of which 25% is international, the Free University of Berlin offers over 150 degree programmes and has overseas institutes in seven locations including New Delhi, Moscow, New York and Cairo.
The university offers courses to international students in 12 departments, some of which are:
Established as an institute of technology in the city of Aachen in western Germany in 1870, the RWTH Aachen University is a world leader in the field of natural sciences and engineering. The university is also especially known for its well-funded research programs, and for the technology-based industries that have emerged in Aachen as a result of the university’s world-class research and high-quality university graduates seeking employment. RWTH Aachen is a large-scale university with over 45,000 enrolled students, of whom about 12,000 are international students.
RWTH Aachen offers courses to international students across nine faculties, some of which are:
Located in the city of Karlsruhe in southern Germany, the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology was officially established in 2009 after a merger between the city’s two major universities. The quality of research available for international students to pursue at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology is proved by the fact that it is Germany’s largest research institute by the amount of funding.
The university is home to 23,000 enrolled students, of which about 6,000 are international students. The Karlsruhe Institute of Technology offers courses across 11 departments, each focused on a scientific field or industry-based subject area. These departments include:
Founded over 200 years ago in 1810, the Humboldt University of Berlin has established itself as a top-ranked university worldwide, with a specialisation in Arts & Humanities courses.
Humboldt University is also known as one of the world’s first institutes to put equal focus on teaching as well as hands-on research work for its students, a mindset that is followed by most modern universities today. With a list of nearly 30 Nobel Prize winners among its alumni, as well as Albert Einstein having taught as a professor at the university, international students can recognise the world-class credentials of the university.
Courses are offered to undergraduate and postgraduate students at Humboldt University in 8 Faculties, as well as a medical faculty operated in partnership with the Free University of Berlin:
Located in the German capital Berlin, the Technical University of Berlin was founded in 1879 and is currently home to over 6,000 international students. A truly urban university with a world-class reputation for scientific innovation, the university also operates a satellite campus in Egypt for international students pursuing specific research programmes.
The university’s location in the heart of Berlin allows international students to easily locate internship and employment opportunities with some of the world’s biggest firms in multiple industries. Courses at the Technical University of Berlin are offered to international students across seven colleges:
Situated in the city of Freiburg in southwestern Germany’s Black Forest region, the University of Freiburg is home to more than 21,000 enrolled students of which around 2,500 are international students. The university has an urban campus with buildings primarily based in Freiburg’s historical city centre.
The University of Freiburg places special focus on interdisciplinary research and academics, and more than 180 courses are offered across 11 faculties. A few of the faculties at the university are:
Located in the vibrant city of Hamburg in northern Germany, the University of Hamburg is a centuries-old university boasting a community of just over 40,000 enrolled students. International students at the University of Hamburg can tap into the university’s partnerships with numerous universities worldwide, enabling them to venture overseas for a year to hone their academic and research prowess.
The University of Hamburg presents over 300 courses to international students, spanning both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. The university is comprised of 8 faculties, which are:
Interested in studying abroad in Germany? Our Study in Germany directory for more information about student visas, tuition fees and how to apply.
Study in GermanyBrowse our list of higher education providers in Germany.
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